SRC-MWN S.B. 158 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 158 By: Truan Education 6/5/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their classes are eligible for automatic admission to any state-supported institution of higher education. Additionally, programs to provide financial aid and counseling are available. However, the special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities found that many schools fail to provide counseling to inform students and their parents of such educational opportunities and the standards that must be met to qualify for assistance. S.B.158 requires certain schools and open-enrollment charter schools to provide counseling regarding the importance of higher education, the advantages for completing the recommended or advanced high school program, financial aid eligibility, how to apply for federal financial aid, acquiring access to the center for financial aid information, the automatic admission of students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class, and conditions for receiving a Texas Grant. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 3 of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 33A, Education Code, by adding Section 33.007, as follows: Sec. 33.007. COUNSELING REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION. Requires each counselor at an elementary, middle, or junior high school, including an open-enrollment charter school offering those grades, to advise students and their parents or guardians regarding the importance of higher education, preparation coursework for higher education, and financial aid availability and requirements. Requires a counselor, during the first school year a student is enrolled in a high school or at the high-school level in an open-enrollment charter school, and again during a student's senior year to provide information about higher education to the student and students' parent or guardian. Requires the information to include information regarding certain criteria. SECTION 2. Amends Section 33.001, Education Code, by providing that this subchapter applies only to a school district that receives funds as provided by Section 42.152(i), except that Section 33.007 applies to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. SECTION 3. Makes Section 33.007, Education Code, as added by this Act, applicable beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. Requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules regarding the provision of counseling regarding higher education as required by Section 33.007(b), Education Code, as added by this Act, to high school students or open-enrollment charter schools other than those for whom the 2001-2002 school year is the first or senior year of high school. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.